Yes, the scale does not address release levels. It actually seems fairly vague in intent when you read it.

For example, nobody poured water over the slagged core in the Rx vessel at TMI-2 and then overflowed it via the containment into the surrounding environment. If that were the case, then I am sure the numerous times I drove by the site while visiting family in Hersey and Harrisburg would not have been possible.

Relevant quote: "A month into Japan's nuclear crisis, no robots have been put to work at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Instead, the plant's operator is relying on a cheaper, expendable resource: humans."

It's not really relevant to the Japanese situation, but read down to the bottom of the linked page to find what some people called humans during the Chernobyl clean-up.

Relevant quote: "A month into Japan's nuclear crisis, no robots have been put to work at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Instead, the plant's operator is relying on a cheaper, expendable resource: humans."

It's not really relevant to the Japanese situation, but read down to the bottom of the linked page to find what some people called humans during the Chernobyl clean-up.

No robot has yet the flexibility nor the ability to simultaneously handle all the different type of tasks that are required in such a clean up work.

Unfortunately when the situation is not linear Humans are still the best solution we have for now.

Relevant quote: "A month into Japan's nuclear crisis, no robots have been put to work at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Instead, the plant's operator is relying on a cheaper, expendable resource: humans."

It's not really relevant to the Japanese situation, but read down to the bottom of the linked page to find what some people called humans during the Chernobyl clean-up.

Also I have seen reports that Japan is having difficulty getting jumpers. The jumpers are willing to take 10 REM (double US allowance) but they need jumpers willing to take 25 REM to get significant work done.

The SL-1 cleanup in Idaho had one visit stay times of seconds for some tasks.
Like, run in set the sponge and bucket on the table, run out. You are done, go home.
then, next dude;
Run in, grab the sponge for a wipe, then run out...

Yeah, but what a crappy way to check out. I don't think they would buy it. Interesting thought though, provokes many civil liberties type arguments in my head.
Terminal Prisoners for Terminal Work. Hmmm.